The Monster Ball Year 2

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “I’ve heard you too.” It was time to really come clean. “Uh, some of your songs are pretty lively.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Frat songs.”

  “I know.”

  “Can I try to come with you?” His voice was so vulnerable that I almost felt bad.

  “Suit yourself.” It would be better for him to see it for himself.

  As soon as I pulled out of the lot, he faded out and disappeared. “Poor kid.” I was calling him a kid even though he had been nearly the same age as me when he died.

  I made the quick drive back to work and managed to type in the security code before the alarm went off in the store.

  “Hey, what are you doing here?” Stacy greeted me as soon as I walked inside.

  “Do you know anything about a Monster Ball?”

  “The Monster Ball?” She put a hand to her throat.

  “I got this silver piece of parchment and—.

  “AHHH!” she screamed. “And shh. Keep it quiet. You’re not supposed to be talking about it out loud. What if someone hears you?”

  “You are the one screaming.” And I didn’t point out I was the only living creature in the store.

  “But no one can hear me other than you.”

  “So you know what it is?” I had to give Ronny some credit. He’d given good advice.

  “Of course I do.”

  “How? If it’s secret and all.”

  “You know how many supernaturals this store attracts. I listen a lot.”

  “So what is it?” I knew Stacy loved that she had information I wanted. I’d let her have her fun, but I was even more determined to get informed.

  “It’s only the most exclusive supernatural event of the year. I can’t believe you got an invitation. I mean clearly you are different and can see ghosts, but I didn’t think you were that special.”

  “Hey!” And for the second time in the space of an hour, a ghost had insulted me.

  “I’m just saying.”

  “So is it true? You get there on a moonbeam?” That part sounded a bit far-fetched. “That’s what it says, but that can’t be real.”

  “Of course it can. Anything can happen when it comes to The Monster Ball.” She returned to her twirling.

  “This night is too weird. First the parchment, then I made the mistake of letting balcony boy know I could hear him.”

  “Balcony boy?” Stacy stopped twirling immediately. “Who’s that?”

  “A ghost. He’d totally be your type. Tall, cute, and obnoxious.”

  “And you didn’t bring him to me?” She pouted. “I can’t believe you.”

  “You know it doesn’t work that way. I can’t bring ghosts with me.”

  “I wish you could.” She sighed.

  “I’m not sure if I would want to.” It would certainly add a new complexity to my life.

  “Not even me? Wouldn’t you love to have me as a roommate?”

  “Some of the time,” I admitted.

  “Hey!” She pouted even more.

  “You never sleep or stop talking. It could be a problem.”

  “Fine. No use hurting my feelings since it can’t happen. But can you at least let me help you find a dress.”

  “A dress?” I felt my brows knit together.

  “Yes.” She started moving further into the store.

  “For what?”

  “The Ball.”

  “‘I’m not going.” I hurried in front of her. “So don’t waste your time.”

  “Of course you are. What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t even know what it is. “I’m not going off of something you claim to have overheard.”

  “Are you doubting me now?” Her pout had turned into a frown.

  “No.”

  “Well then, let’s find you a dress. We can do the rest later.” She moved right through me, sending a deep chill down my body.

  “Okay.” I followed her.

  In addition to being a traditional antique shop, Lost and Found also had a vintage dress section.

  “I can’t really afford most of the dresses back there.” Pretty much every cent I made went to paying for my apartment, food, and tuition.

  “I’m sure Harriet won’t mind if you borrow one.”

  “Of course she will.” Harriet was a good boss, but she wasn’t about handouts.

  “Nope. Not if it’s for a date. I heard her today. She’s worried you don’t have a life. If you say it’s for a date she’ll agree.”

  “A date where I need a vintage gown?” She wasn’t going to buy that one.

  “It’s Halloween. Masquerade balls are a thing. You know that. Just today, some girls came in for that reason.”

  “That’s true.” I nodded. Then I stopped. “Wait. I never said I’m going.”

  “You have to! You got an invitation. If you don’t show, it could be awful.”

  “Why? What’s going to happen?”

  “I don’t know, but do you really want to anger someone who has the ability to transport you on a moonbeam?” She tapped her toe. “I mean really?”

  Stacy had a point. But was it even possible to go anywhere on moonlight? Then again, what was the harm in getting dressed up, waiting outside on the deck, and seeing what happened? What was the worst that could happen? Someone saw me and laughed? I mean there was no way I’d actually be transported...at least, I highly doubted it. It was impossible. Or it should have been. But what is even impossible or possible? And now I was starting to sound as crazy as Stacy.

  We went over to the vintage dress section. I didn’t need to look long to know which one I wanted to wear.

  It was a black dress. Floor length and all lace. I reached for the hanger and pulled it off the rack.

  “Ohhh, that’s a pretty one.” Stacy cooed.

  “I think so, too.” I’d been eyeing it since it came in a few months back.

  “Try it on!” Stacy clapped.

  “Should I?” I started to doubt my selection. “It’s not too formal?”

  “It’s a Ball. You are looking for formal.”

  “Okay. Maybe.”

  “No maybe. Do.” She began to twirl again. “Maybe you were right about me living through your life vicariously.”

  “I wish I could take you.” I did. Yes, she sometimes annoyed me, but she was the closest thing to a best friend I had.

  “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She stopped twirling and hugged me. Which was to say she tried to hug me but walked right through me. The result was that I was a good ten degrees colder again. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. Hugs are always good things.”

  “Now go on.” She made a shooing motion with her hands. “Try it on.”

  I walked into the small dressing room. Really it was a cube with a curtain, but it served its purpose. There was no mirror inside the room, so I had to walk out to see what it looked like.

  Stacy gasped. “It’s as if it were made for you.” She wiped her eyes.

  “Are you crying?” I walked over to the mirror. And wow. She was right. I’d never looked so good in a dress before. “Wow. That’s incredible.”

  “Isn’t it?” Stacy grinned. She changed moods more than anyone I knew, ghost or living alike. “Now you absolutely have to go to the ball. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting that perfect dress.”

  “All right. Let me get changed.” I walked back into the room and got back into my jeans. I missed the dress immediately.

  “Have fun tomorrow night.” Stacy’s whole face glowed. “I won’t hug you again because I don’t want you to get hypothermia.”

  “I’m not going to get hypothermia.”

  “Still, we can’t risk it so close to the Ball.”

  “If this whole thing works and I end up going, I’ll tell you everything.” I was in a very giving mood.

  “Even if it involves a guy?”

  “It’s not going to involve a guy.” I hadn’t even thought about that angle of this.

&
nbsp; “It may.” She grinned. “Promise.”

  “Fine. I promise I’ll fill you in on all the juicy details.”

  “Yay!” She jumped up and down. “Oh, and be sure to tell your new ghost friend hi for me.”

  I groaned. “Oh, yeah. I forgot about him.”

  Chapter Three

  I felt absolutely ridiculous. At least it was Halloween, and therefore it was normal to be dressed up. But usually, dressed up didn’t mean formal attire. I did bring a mask with me in case it turned out to be that kind of ball—not that I was actually going to be at a ball. There was no way that moonlight could transport me anywhere.

  “What are you doing?” Ronny appeared as I waited.

  “Nothing.” I looked out at the parking lot from my spot on the deck.

  “You have to be doing something.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You are standing out here, wearing that.” He gestured to my dress.

  “It’s Halloween. There are lots of reasons.”

  “It’s almost midnight.” He inclined his head to the side.

  “And your point?”

  “You are up to something.”

  “And you care because?” To be honest, I didn’t mind the company. I was starting to doubt myself about even trying to get to the ball.

  “I care because I do.”

  “Well, can you care silently?” Company was one thing. Conversation was something entirely different. “No offense. But I’m trying to pay attention here.”

  “Pay attention to what?”

  “Shh.” I noticed the moon began to glow brighter. And brighter. It got so bright I had to avert my eyes, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash. I blinked several times until my vision returned to normal.

  I looked all around. I was no longer in my apartment complex. I was on a grimy looking sidewalk right outside of a dingy alley. A city soundtrack of cars and music carried on around me. I looked behind me, but there was something about the alley that made me want to head down that way. Normally I would have fought against that urge, but I was half convinced I was dreaming, so I found myself taking several steps down the alley.

  My hair stood on the back of my neck as I continued forward, and I wished I had someone with me. Even Ronny would have been preferable to being completely alone.

  Finally, I noticed a bright red door flanked on either side by huge gargoyles. I stepped closer, and the gargoyles swooped down and transformed into attractive men. Seemingly identical attractive men with long dreadlocks and white suit jackets. The quick action made me jump, and that is saying something coming from a girl who sees ghosts all the time.

  “Ticket, please.” One of the gargoyle-turned men asked.

  “Ticket?” My heart skipped a beat.

  “Yes. You wouldn’t be here without a ticket.” His voice was even, but I could see his barely contained laughter.

  “Oh. The invitation? Was that my ticket?” The invitation I’d lost the night I’d gotten it.

  “Yes.” He nodded.

  “Oh. I lost that.”

  “You lost it?” He raised an eyebrow. Evidently, most people were far more responsible than I was.

  “Uh, I think you’re holding it.” Someone touched my hand.

  I glanced up to see an absolutely gorgeous guy standing there. His dark hair and eyes had my heart racing. As did his stubble covered chin and black suit. “Oh.” I tore my eyes from him and looked down at my hand. The tiny sliver of parchment was in my hand. “That wasn’t there before.”

  “You sure about that?” His lips twisted into a sexy-as-sin smirk.

  “Ticket, please,” the Gargoyle repeated. I handed it over and started toward the door. “Aren’t you coming?” I turned to ask the guy. He was still standing in the same place.

  “Not yet. Waiting for someone.”

  I nodded. I was sure he was waiting for his date. I calmed my heart. See, I’d gotten myself all excited about a guy who was taken.

  I stepped through the doors, and they slammed closed behind me. Great. I’d embarrassed myself in front of Mr. Hottie twice already. Although who knew what Mr. Hottie was? Hadn’t I just watched gargoyles transform? This was a supernatural ball. The assumption was that most of the guests here were decidedly not human.

  I took in my surroundings and immediately wanted to turn around and leave. I was standing in a creepy old hallway. The fluorescent lighting overhead flickered, and then went out completely, sending me into darkness. “Great. So glad I decided to come to this,” I grumbled.

  Then, out of nowhere, I heard the sound of thumping music. I pressed forward down the hallway. There were lights in the distance beckoning me—lights in every different shade of the rainbow. I finally reached the end of the hallway and stepped into a large room lit by fiber optic lights that looked an awful lot like a rain cloud.

  Stacy would love this. The thought came to me immediately. Once again, I wished I hadn’t come to this party alone. Not that being alone was something new for me. I’d discovered early on in my life that keeping the ghost secret from friends was nearly impossible. And it was even less possible to convince someone I wasn’t crazy once I let the secret slip. A few trips to the psych ward was enough for me. I kept mostly to myself now, and I no longer told people about the ghosts. Not even my parents.

  I stared up at the lights. They seemed to change in tune to the music. Smoke floated just above the ground, mixing with the lights to create an even cooler effect. If I weren’t feeling so uncomfortable, the ambiance would have been seriously cool. It was cool. I needed to stop worrying. I knew no one here, which meant I had nothing to lose. It was time to enjoy myself.

  I took in the rest of the space. It was dominated by a large dance floor with large, furry, white bean bag chairs off to the sides.

  My eyes then went to the two cement bars at the front. Behind each was a set of glowing shelves. The lighting in this place was incredible, and one of the bars would be my first stop.

  The bar on the right had a slightly shorter line, so I made my way over there. I took a seat on a metal coil bar stool.

  “What will it be?” The golden-haired bartender asked. My eyes immediately went to the scale tattoo that ran down his arm.

  “Is there a special?” I assumed this party was open bar. If not, I was in trouble. In all of my preparations I’d somehow forgotten to grab my wallet.

  “How about a Dragon’s Breath?” He leaned over, and I got a look at his emerald green eyes.

  “Sure. That sounds good.” I glanced around, looking for Mr. Hottie but trying to tell myself I wasn’t. I’d been at the Ball less than fifteen minutes. It was way too early to get loopy over some guy even if he was unbelievably sexy.

  I turned back toward the bar in time to watch the bartender roast the marshmallows on top of the drink—himself. Meaning with his own breath providing the fire. Like a dragon. That explained the scales.

  I blinked a few times but resisted the urge to ask a million questions. Instead, I thanked him and took the drink. I sipped it. The marshmallows were sweet and topped an equally sweet drink. And a strong one. There was definitely tequila in there. “Thanks.” I smiled, silently admonishing myself for forgetting money so I couldn’t leave a tip. Another thought hit me. I hoped the moonlight brought me home. With no money, that was going to be a challenge otherwise.

  Nothing I could do about it now. I took another sip. “This is really good. Thanks.” I slipped off the stool and headed into the crowd.

  There were people everywhere, and now that I’d just seen the bartender breathe fire, I was even more acutely aware that lots of them could probably kill me if they wanted to. It should have terrified me, but strangely it made me feel more comfortable. Seeing and talking with ghosts was probably nothing to these folks. I took another big gulp of my drink and then another.

  “Hey, slow down there. No one is taking it from you.” A guy with an overly gelled mullet, a leather bomber jacket, and high-top sneakers called out.

&n
bsp; “Mind your own business.” He wasn’t even dressed for the occasion, and he was going to call me out?

  “Wait.” He gasped. “You heard me?”

  “Ugh.” I took a look at the guy again. A much better look. How hadn’t I noticed he was somewhat translucent? And the clothes? They were straight out of the 80s. He was a ghost. I was at a supernatural ball, and here I was talking to a ghost. Could I not stop doing that for ten minutes?

  “This is incredible. Incredible. How can this be? First, I see her, and now you can see me?” He rubbed his chin. “Maybe it’s because it’s Halloween. It is Halloween? Right?”

  “Her?” I looked around. Maybe these were supernaturals, but they might still think I was crazy for talking to myself. “And yes, it’s Halloween.”

  “Madelina. She’s here.” His eyes got big and wild. “I thought my heart would stop when I saw her. Then, I remembered my heart stopped a long time ago.”

  “Not that long ago.” I looked at his attire. “I’ve met ghosts much older than you.”

  “Oh? How old?” He adjusted his jacket.

  “Hundreds of years old.”

  “Impressive.” He slicked back his hair.

  “Informative. Interesting. I don't know if I’d say impressive.” But that wasn’t what I really wanted to know. “Who is she?”

  “The love of my life. She is the most beautiful girl in the world.”

  “Oh?” I hadn’t been expecting that answer. If he’d died in the 80s she’d have to be really old now, or not human.

  “She’s a vampire. A vampire princess.” He let me know it was the latter.

  “Are you one? I mean are you a vampire ghost?” It would be a first for me and, admittedly, kind of cool.

  “A vampire ghost?” His forehead furrowed. “Is that a thing?”

  “How would I know?” I took another sip of my drink.

  “You talk to ghosts. Doesn’t that make you an expert?”

  “An expert?” I laughed. “Not exactly. And either way, I’ve never met a vampire ghost before—well, unless you are one.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Didn’t think so.”

  “Then why did you ask?”

  “I meant by your reaction, I didn’t think so.” I looked for a place to put my empty glass down. Then, as if by magic, a server appeared with a tray. I set it down. “Thanks.”